News from Thailand – December 1, 2014
Monks who have to have sex if necessary or who commit other violations of the Buddhist rules laid down in the Tripitaka will be punished more severely. It carries a prison sentence of 1 to 7 years and/or a fine of 2.000 to 10.000 baht. That penalty also applies to accomplices; women who have sex with monks will be prosecuted.
The stricter regulations, which will be laid down in law, are an initiative of the Office of Buddhism in response to some high-profile cases of misbehaving monks. One concerns the abbot of Wat Hiranyaram in Pichit, who was found to have invested 40 million baht in donations in the stock market.
There are also stories about the abbot of Wat Saket in Bangkok. He would run a real estate project, own an orchard and a credit company, own some luxury vehicles and fighting cocks, and raise fighting fish; all that in Ayutthaya. And there are also reports of misuse of state funds for the cremation of the Supreme Patriarch.
And that's just the proverbial tip of the iceberg, as monks across the country have been accused of misconduct, such as intimate relations with women.
– Stricter requirements will be imposed on the professional competence of mechanics who install mechanical and electrical appliances. They must be in possession of a competence certificate. Employees who do not have such a paper risk a fine of 5.000 baht; the employer must pay 30.000 baht.
The certification is regulated in an update to the Skill Development Promotion Act of 2002. The amendment, expected to take effect in March, authorizes the Department of Labor to draw up a list of procedures that require special expertise or are deemed dangerous in the field of electricity, air conditioning and welding. The emergency parliament has already approved the amended law.
Director-General Puntrik Smiti of the Department of Skill Development hopes that the amendment will lead to fewer accidents affecting employers, employees and consumers. Puntrik also thinks that it will increase the confidence of other countries in Thai products and services. 'That strengthens Thailand's competitive position abroad', he believes.
– Corrupt politicians should be banned from politics for life, according to 69,2 percent of the 1.250 respondents in a Nida poll on proposed changes to anti-corruption legislation. The National Anti-Corruption Commission will gain authority as a result. However, 26 percent think a lifetime ban is undesirable: the wrongdoers should be given a chance to improve their lives. They think that the harsh punishment could also lead to political rifts.
When asked about income statements, 90 percent said they would also like to make the same requirement for members of local government bodies. Currently, only members of parliament and cabinet must provide insight into their finances.
Furthermore, 58 percent believe that the NACC should be able to arrest corrupt suspects, explaining that the police do not always handle these cases correctly and may be inclined to ask for bribes. When the NACC is allowed to adjourn, corruption cases will also be handled more quickly. On the other hand, 32,9 disagrees. Double work, they say.
The emergency parliament has formed a committee to consider legislative changes, based on wishes from the NACC (the same ones mentioned in the Nida poll).
– The Ministry of Transport asks the government for a credit of 32 billion baht to improve safety at railway crossings. In the short term, it will be the turn of 584 railway crossings made by residents; they are secured with warning signals [?]. An amount of 58 million baht is required for this.
The reason is a number of recent accidents at crossings, both legal and illegal crossings. In October, six people were killed and 21 injured in collisions between trains and vehicles in one week.
In the long term, the installation of sensors and better barriers on 1.109 crossings is planned (cost 4,4 billion baht). [It is not clear to me what the rest of the requested credit will be spent on.]
www.dickvanderlugt.nl – Source: Bangkok Post
Regarding the article professional competence for car mechanics and electricians and welders.
Yes, there is certainly a lot that can be improved here in the Far East.
But only one large group has been forgotten , namely the Thai construction workers .
In all the years that I have been staying here I have already worn out quite a few construction teams.
And have never seen a good skilled construction worker.
Sometimes also when visiting newly built houses and especially bathrooms and kitchens.
In the Netherlands and Belgium the water always runs to the lowest point.
In Thailand, the water climbs up to the drain, a very common sight.
Not to mention welders , I call them bakers or stitchers .
Rarely seen a good and strong weld here in Thailand.
Auto mechanics here are good at improvising, I should definitely recognize that.
But there too, craftsmanship is often lacking.
There is no good vocational training, as we know it in Holland they have never heard of it.
Have you ever shown a couple of Thai construction workers on Youtube a video of how Dutch young people in training to become bricklayers and tilers have to make a rather difficult test piece for their exam.
They all looked surprised.
A she against my ega we can't do that.
Jan Beute.
Thai News;
Dick, and I always thought that those monks went through life completely sexless for their "vocation". I didn't trust “a smoking monk” at the time when he came to visit our house in Buriram every day! And my [then] girlfriend also wanted me to give him some money to buy cigarettes. Yes Yes; give me a dress like that too; free food every day and then a bit.... too! It seemed like my calling, but they are not allowed!?! do they drink or do they just do that?
William Schevenin…
Monks are also human beings. Rather this than the same misery as in the Catholic Church. I don't think taking a stricter approach is a good idea.